Backyard Areas, How we make it all fit

I have no idea how I have been blogging about our backyard adventures for several years and didnt have a single overall picture to share! So here it is! The summer heat took its toll on our attempt at grass growing, but we will reseed in the fall and hopefully get a full lush lawn by next year!

We have our yard divided into 4 sections. The garden area which is also where the bee houses reside, the chicken and compost area, the goat area and then the yard and play area. 

You will have to click on the pictures and make them larger so you can see the labels. 

In the far back corner of the yard we have the chicken coop and hen area. It is connected to the compost area so they can constantly be turning and working the compost pile. When we put all the hay from the goat area back there, those girls will work for days getting every last bug, weed, and seed out. They also get any and all food and garden scraps as well as a generous (thanks to Addie) supply of veggies, bugs, worms, and feed. This area is also right next to the garden so we open up and connect the two areas during the winter so the chickens can get out any and all weeds and bugs. Occasionally we do let the chickens and goat all out of their areas (under supervision) for a "walk about" through the yard and garden. The goats sure can tear out some weeds in the garden real quick and the chickens have at the bugs! But if they arent watched closely every single tomato will be gone quite quickly! In between the chicken and goat houses is the garage. The goat house is small and low to the ground (since they are little mini goats). The goats have quite a bit of space and in the middle of their run is the milking barn. This is where all the feed, hay, and any animal supplies are stored. 

 Here you can see the playset which is almost always in use! The path leads to the garden which is also where the beehives are located. We want them close to the garden for easy pollination but also it provides a protective fence so no kids stumble upon them and get too curious. 

 And when the camera is out of course I have to take a few pictures of these little cuties!

 And these two crazy and overly energetic cuties!

I would like to add that our animals do have more attention and interaction than most others. There is almost always someone in our backyard playing or working and we are playing, feeding or grooming them constantly. The animals are not continually restricted to confined areas. They are regularly patrolling the entire area finding snacks or playing. We have found it is safer for the animals and for our children and their friends if everyone has their own separate area to retreat to and feel safe when things get a little crazy. And when we have people over we have found it to be nice and necessary for the kids to be able to play and the goat & chickens to go off to a safe and comfortable are to eat or sleep undisturbed. 

There you have it! That is how we make it all fit!! 

Video Nigerian Dwarf Goat Kids Playing

Does it get any cuter than this!? I set up these logs for the little ones to play on and they sure do love it! They are only 2 weeks old and just full of energy! I love the sound of their little hoofs on the logs and the walkway.  

Peaches had her babies!!! 1 Doeling and 1 Buckling April 17, 2012

 I seriously dont think there is a more precious goat than my little Peachy Peach. I just love how sweet and affectionate she is...as well as being a fabulous milker and excellent mommy!

Last tuesday Peach was acting mighty uncomfortable and I knew she was quickly approaching the birth of her babies. I talk to our breeder who told me that is she is showing all the signs of labor then I could go ahead and give her "Magic Goat formula" (1 part molasses, 1 part oil, 2 parts corn syrup)...the sugar gives a boost to the system as well as the added energy to go into labor. After giving her the formula it was only a few hours and she was hunkered down in the barn ready to deliver her babies. 

Now let me add here how drastically different Peaches and Poppy are during birth...Poppy sure wants everyone and I mean everyone in the world to know that she is in pain and about to give birth. Then there is Peach, just so extremely quiet! She only cried out a few times and that was in the moments she was pushing out the babies. I sat with her just about all weekend to make sure I was there to help her if there were any complications. After the events of last year I didnt want her to be all alone and end up loosing one of her babies. So finally the moment was here...as were some of our friends who were intensely excited to see their first goat birth!!

 Peach did great!! The first baby to come out was a little white and black female with blue eyes! This baby was by no means small!! I was so shocked at how big she was and within a few seconds that tiny little baby was up walking around...seconds!! She is so extremely strong! She was heading for milk from mommy before Peach even had a chance to push out baby #2! Within 5 minutes her second baby was here and it was a precious little tri-colored blue eyed male!

 I have never seen such a precious bond between an animal and her babies! Peach just LOVES these 2 little goats! And Ill be honest, I just about cried too! Shes had her babies almost a week and hasnt let them out of her sight! Whereas Poppy makes an escape and hides every chance she can get...but she also has 4 babies runnin after her for milk and Peach only has the 2. 

My friend Rebecca took the above birthing pictures and she did a FABULOUS job! She took some amazing/shocking but VERY impressive pictures of the actual birth...I wont post those on the blog though ;)

Here they are!!!! This picture was taken the morning after they were born...just SO soft and adorable!

This little buckling was sold immediately! A family snatched him up right away to be there startup herds service buck. 

 He has absolutely beautiful coloration and just a precious temperament...like his mamma!

 Then there is this gorgeous doeling!! She is so wonderful! I love her coloration and her cute pink nose...not to mention she has blue eyes and is polled (no horns and will never grow horns). 

I couldnt be happier for my little Peachy Peach!

Poppy had her babies!!!! Cuteness ALERT!! 3 Bucklings and 2 Doelings April 14, 2012

It has been quite an eventful weekend here! Poppy was due on Friday and Peaches was due on Saturday. We have been on high alert since last week to make sure everyone has everything they need prior to the goat babies arrival! Saturday morning Poppy started showing signs of labor (extremely affectionate, very uncomfortable, not eating very much, and I'll spare you the details that were taking place "down there"). She is getting closer and closer...as is the tornado! Yes, we were under a tornado watch from a tornado that was coming up through Oklahoma...and we do not have a basement! We prepared an area in the garage for Poppy and her babies and a separate area for Peaches and her babies (should they come that night as well). Finally, Poppy went into active labor and WOW is she loud! She sure doesn't mess around though...when its baby time she hunkers down and pops out the babies! Might I also add that she is a VERY fertile little lady! She had 5...I repeat FIVE babies! However, one baby did not make it...it was quite sad, but there is much joy from the 4 that are still here with us. 

Oh they are too cute! Poppy was doing great but one little baby was still kind of struggling (little Dot Dot). She wasn't jumping up like the others and was so small that she wasn't getting in for the milk and for Poppy's attention. We started getting the kids loaded up to head over to some friends basement and kept running back out to bring Dot Dot back over to Poppy. Well, we had to go and couldn't wait any longer. After we all got safe and sound in the basement and the threat of tornado was still a little ways off, Bryan ran back home (barely a few blocks away) to do one final check of the babies, and Dot Dot was standing up and was over with the rest of the babies...now back to shelter just in time. The tornado came disturbingly close...a little over a mile from our house. I've heard reports that it was up to 1 mile wide when it came through our area.

Once the threat of tornado was gone, we came on out of the basement and headed home...finding a rescue crew barricading off the road down the street due to tornado damage as well as an insane amount of rain rushing down the streets. Getting back home we found all 4 babies safe and sound snuggled up with their momma. By this point I thought for sure Peach would be having her babies soon...but not yet...she took her jolly time and held those babies in a few days more (that story will be posted next!)

Let me introduce you to Poppy's 4 babies...

Here are her two little blue Eyed Bucklings...

Then we have this precious little tri-colored doeling!

And last...but Definitely not least...we have this little blue eyed adorably precious doeling. My kids have named her "Dot Dot" and she is oh so tiny.

My Precious Little City Goats!

These two girls are so delightful! Poppy is very strong willed and "opinionated" while Peaches is just a precious and loving little lady who doesn't really get too worked up about anything. 

Poppy is always on patrol through the yard to have her say in the way things are done - 

 - Peaches is hanging out on the back porch. This is one of their favorite places to hang out!

Yep, here she is again examining things. Im mean really, doesnt she just look like she is about to tell someone off!! 

 - While Peaches hangs out in the goat barn safe and sounds. 

We sure have been busy!!

Spring is here and we are trying to get our backyard ready! We have a nice large backyard and can grow thousands of pounds of produce, but for some reason we can not grow grass!! We just cant do it...it just dies! SO, we are trying it once again!! We bought 12 tons of nice compost and had it delivered (which of course a large pile of dirt is strictly for climbing and sliding!)

Then Bryan decided that we needed to rid the back yard of a few trees!

Now to pick up the tree! Which of course is the most fun part for Henry and Addie!! (dont worry everyone...they are fastened in quite tightly!)

Oh and while we are at it we might as well get a shed delivered! This shed was at my grandpas house and they didnt need it anymore and it was basically going to get thrown away...so we had it moved here to be our new milking barn and a place to store all our animal feed and hay :)

 How awesome is this little machine!!

 Ummm ya its a tight fit!!! The shed is 10'4" and the opening on our side gate (WITH the gate and hinges taken off) is 10'5"...but this guy sure wasnt scared to try! 

 Yep, that tight!

PULL BRYAN PULL!!! 

Ok, now lets trim some more trees!

Dont look kids...daddy and Mr Paul arent being very safe.  

Now lets rearrange the yard while we are at it...chicken coop is moved to the back to make room for our new shed :)

Now to leveling out the yard again and spreading the compost evenly.  

Oh boy...what a weekend! We have ALOT more work to do but this is a good start ;) Ill definitely keep you posted on our progress! But now we are under a ton of rainfall so it is quite the mud pit back there!! But we are EXCITED!!!!